Live Events

Play, Observe, Inspire: Dynamic Live Training with Clare Devlin

Live Events

Engaging, Hands-On Training for Educators Working with Children Aged 2–11.

From Play, Creativity, and Learning Outdoors to Observation and Assessment, Clare’s expertise brings theory to life. Attend live events or bring bespoke, in-person training to your setting!

Off-the-shelf training is also available—explore the programmes on offer, each of which can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

Clare offers one-day events, multi-unit courses, and guest speaker engagements. She also presents at conferences across the UK, Ireland, and Europe, sharing her passion for play-based learning with educators.

Clare presenting to adults
Childcare and education

One-Day Events

Children in sand

Observation & Learning Outdoors

Find out more about this one-day live event by clicking the button below

This one-day event is designed for small groups where more in-depth discussions can take place.

The event will address:

Session 1:

  • How to do an observation
  • How to complete an assessment
  • How to link assessments to planning for learning
    A simple method for managing the whole process

Session 2:

  • The ingredients for great outdoor learning
  • Setting up the environment to support continuous provision
  • Examining the best materials that support learning throughout the whole school
  • Hands on experience of one outdoor ingredient (wear suitable clothing)
  • How to evaluate the learning

Date: Thursday 22nd May 2025 Fully Booked - More Dates Coming Soon

Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Venue: The Training Room, Loup, Magherafelt

Cost : £145pp & VAT (Refreshments & Lunch provided)

Limited Places (6)

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Guest Speaker Events

Woodwork

Woodwork with Pete Moorhouse

Find out more about this live event and what it will include by clicking the Read More button below.

This Live Event will address

  • ways in which woodworking can be safely introduced in your school
  • the associated learning and development relating to preschool, nursery, FS, KS1 & KS2
  • what progression in learning looks like across the year groups
  • the most suitable wood and tools for children and instruction on how best to use them
  • the stages of children’s progression in woodwork
  • the health and safety measures required and a sample risk benefit assessment
  • information on potential suppliers of wood/ tools
  • how to set up and manage a woodworking area
  • the open-ended nature of woodwork

There will be practical sessions for practitioners to explore the tools, gain confidence and share the experience of making creations in wood.

Please bring any woodwork tools that you may already have in your setting.

Two dates available:

Monday 10 th November 2025 (Pre-school, Nursery and Foundation Stage Practitioners – Adults working with 3-6 year olds)

Tuesday 11 th November 2025 (Key Stage One and Key Stage Two Practitioners – Adults working with 7-11 year olds)

Venue: Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Lurgan, N.Ireland (close to Junction 10 off M1 motorway)

Cost : £145 + VAT per person (Lunch and refreshments will be provided)

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Multi-Unit Courses

Children problem solving

Outdoors Thinking – Certificate in Outdoor Practice

Find out more about this live event and what it will include by clicking the Read More button below.

Outdoors Thinking offers a Certificate in Outdoor Practice which focuses on the outdoor provision you make onsite in your setting on a daily basis.

Three modules each made up of 4 units work together to make up the full level 3 OCN accredited certificate.

  • Module 1 is about creating an outdoor environment that provides a rich landscape of stimulating, meaningful and worthwhile possibilities that draw on what the outdoors is particularly able to offer young children. There is an in-depth look at the incredible potential in the ‘super-ingredients’ of excellent outdoor provision and the opportunity to develop these in your own setting
  • Module 2 enables the practitioner to understand and believe in learning through play outdoors. Time is spent exploring the natural learning mechanisms used by children.
  • Module 3 supports the practitioner to be confident both in practice and articulating the role of outdoor provision in children’s learning and development

Time: 12 Day programme over a 14-month timeframe

Cost: £1400 & VAT (payable to Outdoors Thinking)

Venues in Northern Ireland: Hill of the O’ Neill, Dungannon & Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy

Lead Trainer (NI): Clare Devlin

More Info

For more information or to book a place please visit Book Now

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Off-the-Shelf Courses

Art and design

Art & Design through Play

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • Planning for progression in learning (Nursery to Key Stage One)
  • Engaging in practical art experiences that encourage creative and critical thinking - introducing a range of skills and processes
  • Making links to other areas of curriculum – planning for open-ended, creative opportunities that promote the development of physical skills, thinking skills, personal capabilities, numeracy, literacy and WAU through art and design
  • Evaluating learning
  • Considering how plenary sessions connect the learning
  • Documenting and making learning visible

Time: Half Day or Full Day programme (includes practical indoor/outdoor sessions)

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Learning outdoors

Learning Outdoors

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • Discussing benefits of Outdoor Learning – leading into policy
  • Exploring how the outdoor environment supports all aspects of the curriculum – practical outdoor sessions
  • Planning for learning outdoors – linking to observations of children
  • Considering how low cost/no cost resources support learning
  • Examining the role of the adult
  • Discussing challenge, risk and safety

Time: Half Day or Full Day programme (includes practical outdoor sessions)

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Investigative play

Learning through Investigative Play

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • Supporting teachers in their understanding of what is meant by Learning through Investigative Play
  • Planning for challenging and engaging experiences that will encourage children to think more creatively and critically as they play both indoors and outdoors
  • Ensuring that ICT is used to support learning in meaningful ways
  • Ensuring that there is clear progression in learning across the curriculum
  • Supporting teachers understanding of the link between observations and planning for learning
  • Supporting teachers with their use of evaluation to inform future planning for learning
  • Exploring the difference between adult led and child led experiences
  • Examining curriculum led planning formats

Time: Half Day or Full Day programme

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Child with magnifying glass

Observation, Assessment & Planning – 2 parts

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

This programme is designed to run over 2 sessions. Session 1 describes how the process works. Practitioners are invited to try the process in their settings for approximately 6 weeks and then continue with Session 2. Session 2 is not essential but is highly recommended.

Session 1:

  • Introduction to 3 stage process of observing, assessing and planning
  • Examining observation, documentation and assessment formats
  • Addressing the correlation between involvement and children's learning
  • Observing and supporting wellbeing
  • Practicing the observation process
  • Managing the observation process in settings

Session 2:

  • Questions re implementation of process to date – fine tuning the process
  • Closer look at connection between observation, documentation, assessment and planning for learning - demonstrating how observations of a child inform the planning process
  • Planning for learning from child led and adult led perspectives
  • Examples of planning for Physical Development – illustrating the complete observation, assessment, and planning process
  • Distinction and correlation between observation and evaluation of learning

Time: 2:30 hours per session (2 sessions recommended)

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Quality interactions

Quality Interactions - The Role of the Adult

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • Examination of the role of the adult in supporting young children's thinking, learning and development
  • Examining strategies that adults may use to enhance their interactions with children
  • Exploring how adults support and sustain shared thinking with children
  • Viewing quality interactions
  • Planning for quality interactions

Time: 2:30 hours

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Header image 1

Self-Evaluation & Action Planning

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • What does Self-Evaluation mean?
  • Considering Self-Evaluation within the context of Development Planning
  • Using self-evaluation tools to help identify strengths and areas for development - gather evidence
  • Prioritise areas for development
  • Plan for improvement - action planning
  • Implementation
  • Monitoring Processes
  • Evaluate progress/outcomes

Time: 2:30 hours

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Technology

Technology in the Early Years

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • What good Technology experiences look like in Early Years settings
  • Planning for Technology in Pre-school, Nursery and Foundation Stage classrooms – a planning tool is given to participants
  • Projects demonstrating how technology can be used effectively to support and enhance learning across the curriculum

Time: 2:30 hours

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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World around us

World Around Us & STEM through Play

Find out more about this live event by clicking the button below

Workshop will include:

  • Planning for progression in learning (Nursery to Key Stage One)
  • Examining the content of World Around US in Nursery, Foundation Stage and Key Stage One
  • Engaging in practical experiences that encourage problem solving and creative and critical thinking – indoor and outdoor
  • Making links to other areas of curriculum – planning for open-ended, creative opportunities that promote the development of physical skills, thinking skills, personal capabilities, numeracy and literacy
  • Evaluating learning
  • Considering how plenary sessions connect the learning

Time: Half Day or Full Day programme (includes practical indoor/outdoor sessions)

Cost: On Request

Onsite Training

Contact Us

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Comissioning Live Events

Live events can be commissioned directly by schools and organisations. For bookings and inquiries:

Call: +44 (0) 7724 766973   or   Email: clare@claredevlin.org

Or, join one of Clare’s scheduled events.

Testimonials

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“Boutiquing” in Primary and Early Years Education - Absolutely amazing talk!

Roberto

Thomas Coram Centre, London

"Clare's in-person training on Observation and Assessment was a real light-bulb moment for our school staff. Clare clearly guided us through the rationale and method of completing solid observations, which through assessment provide a comprehensive picture of each child's learning and developmental journey."

Lorna

Christian Brothers Primary School, Armagh

"Our staff recently attended an in-person Learning Outdoors training day with Clare, and it proved to be an incredibly valuable professional development experience. Clare clearly demonstrated that Learning Outdoors is beneficial for all ages, dispelling the misconception that it’s only suitable for younger children, such as those in Pre-school, Foundation Stage or early Key Stage One. She also emphasised the wide range of benefits that implementing these opportunities can have across the entire school.

The practical sessions were especially engaging, showcasing how simple, cost-effective materials can be used to facilitate outdoor lessons, even with older pupils. This was a highly worthwhile experience for our staff, and we plan to build on this area of school life in the future."

Ciaran Clifford

Christian Brothers Primary School, Armagh

Get In Touch

For more information on any of the workshops, training programmes or services offered by Clare Devlin – Education Consultancy, please visit our Online Sessions , Live Events and Coaching pages, or don't hesitate to get in touch.

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